The “Community”[2] finale, the final of the final three episodes for the season, suggested again that it’s been Abed’s inner dialog all along.

It also seemed written well before another season was assured, as a sort of hedge, in case it was the series finale, too. But it served to move the members of the Greendale study group forward to new understanding and maturity. Also, in Troy’s case, to refrigerator repair prowess.

Evil Abed (love the goatee) beckoned Good Abed into the Dreamatorium and somehow they (and we) all came out emotionally more open, having admitted fears and the need for each other. The show wasn’t just about cynical attitudes toward TV comedy, or meta meaning, or anything else. It turned out to be about…goodness? honesty with friends? confronting oneself? finality!

Jeff gets to make an idealistic, heroic speech: the truth, he concludes, is that helping only ourselves is bad, helping each other is good.

Shirley and Pierce get to launch their inside-the-cafeteria sandwich business, Britta gets to offer successful therapy to Abed. Annie gets to move beyond her crush on Jeff. Abed gets to save a portion of the Dreamatorium for further explorations (another 13 episodes!) and they all get to return to their studies.

The darkest timeline? it won’t happen, because the show lives on. Whether or not it continues under the masterful hand of Dan Harmon remains to be seen. It won’t be the same show without him.

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